Overview: (NET) The psalmist recalls how he once worshiped in the Lord’s temple, but laments that he is now oppressed by enemies in a foreign land. Some medieval Hebrew MSS combine Psalms 42 and 43 into a single psalm.
Author: We have finished book I of the Psalm and in book II we see other authors. Korahites: (BEB) Member of Levi’s tribe, of the division of Kohath (Ex 6:18, 21; Nm 16:1). Their ancestor, Izhar, was the brother of the father of Moses and Aaron, thus their family position was closest to the priesthood. They were the temple singers, gatekeepers, and bakers of sacrificial cakes.
Repeated phrase: There were 3 questions asked in this psalm.
(1) v.2b, I say, “When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?”
The Korahites thirst for God and wanted to appear before God because they have something they want to tell Him.
(2) v.3b, 10, "all day long they [their enemies] say to me, “Where is your God?”
Note, "all day long" the psalmist continually suffered the ridicule from their enemies. It seems that God had forgotten about them. That probably referred to the time when the Israelite were captured from their country to be Babylon. There is no more temple in the foreign country. As the temple singers there was no more place to worship with their fellow worshippers. To their enemies it seemed that their God has forgotten about them.
(3) v.5 Why are you depressed, O my soul?
Why are you upset?
Immediately they knew the answer:
Wait for God!
For I will again give thanks
to my God for his saving intervention.
Even though the emotion seems to be high, but interestingly we see the lament right the way in v.6 I am depressed. The hope and the lament interchanged couple times from v.5-10. v.9 I will pray to God, my high ridge:
“Why do you ignore me?
Why must I walk around mourning
because my enemies oppress me?”
At the end of the psalm, the author chose to finish this psalm with the positive note:
v.11 Why are you depressed, O my soul?
Why are you upset?
Wait for God!
For I will again give thanks
to my God for his saving intervention.
This is basically the same as in v.5. My guess is this: in v.5, the Korahites only said that out of their knowledge. They knew that was the answer for depression. However, their emotion still went ups and downs couple times. At the end, they chose to believe in God. That was from their faith. Even though we may experience different emotions, but our faith is our anchor.
"Wait for God!" "I will again give thanks..."
Audrey
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